The winners of the Chase the Ace fundraiser in Pilot Mound are still on cloud nine after walking away with well over $173,000. Carman's Don DeMare and his girlfriend, Fern Morgan won the contest that stretched out for 45 weeks.

The campaign was put on by the Pilot Mound Kinette Club to support three local projects.

DeMare chose his dream ride from Morden's Gaslight Harley-Davidson (submitted)"It was shocking," said DeMare.  "I was very shocked that they even picked my ticket and I was even more shocked after I picked the ace.  It didn't sink in right away."

The night they won, DeMare said there were about 400 people who purchased tickets with hopes of winning the big prize.  7 cards were left from the deck when DeMare and Morgan's ticket was placed on the lucky ace.

DeMare said he and Morgan felt lucky to even get in the doors Friday night.  He said normally there is only 40 to 50 people, but as the jackpot grows, so does the number of people.  "We had gone the week before at 2:00 and there was no line-up and we had no problem getting tickets.  When we got there last week, we got there at 2:10, and there was already 200 people in line."

With his winnings, DeMare, a truck driver for Maple Leaf in Winkler, has already bought his dream bike, a Harley Davidson.  He said he also plans to do some renovations on his house, and help out his kids.

DeMare said his girlfriend, who owns a restaurant in Carman, plans to spend some of her prize money on a new stove for the business.